Demand Continuing To Increase For Online Trade

Online shopping remains on a sharp upward trend, despite snow holding up deliveries and temporary interruptions to online payments processing after Wikileaks supporters attacked MasterCard SecureCode and Verified by Visa, according to research by SecureTrading, the UK's leading independent payment processor, using its own figures based on customer transactions.

From November 19 to December 15, the total number of transactions processed by a core group of SecureTrading retail clients rose 42% over the same period in 2009.

Jon Prideaux, SecureTrading deputy chief executive, said, "Given the current state of the economy, and unforeseen events such as weather and cyber attacks, we believe this huge rise is due mainly to consumers having greater confidence in shopping online. Retailers of all sizes clearly now have the systems that enable them to offer fast, secure payment processing, order fulfilment and quick delivery and returns."

He continued, "There are also a unique set of dynamics at work this year; consumers want to save money by taking advantage of the many bargains on offer, get Christmas organised early, beat the VAT rise, and save time. Online shopping ticks all these boxes."